For the first time in nearly 100 years, a total solar eclipse — which occurs when the moon moves directly in between the sun and the earth — was visible from coast-to-coast in the United States. A path of "totality," nearly 70 miles wide, cut its way across country, beginning in Oregon, peaking in Hopkinsville, Kentucky and ending in South Carolina. A partial glimpse of the eclipse was available for the remainder of the states. Millions flocked to prime viewing spots, whole cities came to a standstill, and at libraries and retail locations across the country, more than 3.5 million pairs of eclipse glasses were handed out by the Space Science Institute's STAR_Net initiative.

But those glasses, although they may look eerily similar to the early aughts 3-D movie specs, were serving an incredibly serious function: protecting your eyes from damage. And if you looked at the eclipse unencumbered,

It's common knowledge that you really shouldn't stare at the sun on a regular day. But when it's obscured by the moon, people are often tricked into thinking they can stare directly into the sun for longer periods of time. Guess what? Those very damaging UV rays are still out and about and causing damage! You just aren't immediately aware that you're cookin' those retinas!